At a quick note (so I might miss things), key changes are:
-Ships Market
-Credits Exchange
-Shipwreck Hunting
-Royal Stipends
For a newcomer, the most important of all are the Royal Stipends: Joining the nation that offers the best stipends for newcomers (You should look up to Captain rank mostly) is considered one of the top moves.
Credits exchange, once you see where the price usually stand, is a feature that awards activity. You can make millions per day once you can reach the full capacity (no bank - 50M, 25M in gold and 25M in credits).
Ships Market can be used to build ships faster. You save on turns and materials that you would otherwise need to carry. The deals at the market if you combine all costs, are better than if you build them yourself (not always). You could arrange a deal through the tavern with other players for bundle purchase of Howkers perhaps, on a low price surely.
Shipwreck Hunting is not really viable for a newcomer.
If you still play by day 3, you are in a guild and you like the game, consider buying credits. There will be no better moment to buy credits than when you are a newcomer. Not only for the newcomer packs but because the great boost credits can give early on.